Lesson 3: Electricity
Getting Started
We use electricity to make light and to run motors. Every day we use electricity without thinking about where it comes from or how it works. Electricity can come from a battery or an electrical outlet. Think of all the ways you use electricity during a single day!
Stuff You Need
- ScienceWiz Energy box
- bicycle
- coal (kit)
- hammer
- markers
- paper clips (kit)
- poster board
- push pin (kit)
- tea candle (kit)
Ideas to Think About
- What is your relationship with energy?
- How are energy and the environment interrelated?
Things to Know
- Batteries store energy that can be used for motion and light.
- Fossil fuels are nonrenewable sources of energy, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. They are formed from the remains of plants and animals that have been buried beneath the surface of the earth and changed by heat and pressure.
Skills
- Identify sources of stored energy, such as food, fuel, and batteries. (S)
- Explain how machines and living things convert stored energy to motion and heat. (S)
- Know how energy for your home is produced.
Introducing the Lesson
Explain to your child that today he will explore ways that energy is generated and used for electricity. Ask your child what he knows about power plants.